How I messed up my wrists and fists

So I need a little help. I looked through the old posts and nothing quite fits my situation.

First, a little history on how I messed up my wrists and forearms I just the past few months; its embarrassing. (just for fun, although it could have a bearing on my problem, which is why I mention it).

1) Between doing sets of push-ups, I thought I could squeeze a rubber hand ball for grip strength - doing something while doing nothing. Result - screwed up painful wrists.

2) Doing diamond push-ups, I noticed a sharp twisting pain in my forearms; I thought "oh hell, its just normal pain, work through it!" Result, terrible pain in my forearms and elbows.

Thankfully, 1 and 2 healed over time, although I notice #2 once in a while.

Now my real problem:

1) my right middle knuckle has been swollen for about 6 weeks, esp. the fleshy part between my middle and ring finger knuckles. It doesn't really hurt much, unless I punch something hard (which is how I got it in the first place; I didn't feel any pain or notice swelling until the next morning) or really stretch the hand back.

2) I went through a wing chun phase about a month ago (I told you this was embarrassing...) and while practicing those chun punches, I really screwed up my pinkies. I know now I was really just doing bad vertical punches. I know its not the bone that's screwed up, just the muscle, like when I grab something it'll hurt in a kind of tight pinching way. It goes from the back of my hand around the ring and pinkie finger, and a little down my wrist. But it doesn't hurt when I'm punching the bag or the pads (using proper form now of course!), or after exercises like finger tip pushups or squeezing a ball. Knuckle push-ups bother them.

I'm posting this here because I'm guessing someone here will have experience with these problems, and maybe how long it will take to recover. I just can't trust doctors sometimes, always wanting to do surgery or give pain killers or get you into rehab so you have more bills to pay.

So I need a little help. I looked through the old posts and nothing quite fits my situation.

First, a little history on how I messed up my wrists and forearms I just the past few months; its embarrassing. (just for fun, although it could have a bearing on my problem, which is why I mention it).

1) Between doing sets of push-ups, I thought I could squeeze a rubber hand ball for grip strength - doing something while doing nothing. Result - screwed up painful wrists.

2) Doing diamond push-ups, I noticed a sharp twisting pain in my forearms; I thought "oh hell, its just normal pain, work through it!" Result, terrible pain in my forearms and elbows.

Thankfully, 1 and 2 healed over time, although I notice #2 once in a while.

Now my real problem:

1) my right middle knuckle has been swollen for about 6 weeks, esp. the fleshy part between my middle and ring finger knuckles. It doesn't really hurt much, unless I punch something hard (which is how I got it in the first place; I didn't feel any pain or notice swelling until the next morning) or really stretch the hand back.

2) I went through a wing chun phase about a month ago (I told you this was embarrassing...) and while practicing those chun punches, I really screwed up my pinkies. I know now I was really just doing bad vertical punches. I know its not the bone that's screwed up, just the muscle, like when I grab something it'll hurt in a kind of tight pinching way. It goes from the back of my hand around the ring and pinkie finger, and a little down my wrist. But it doesn't hurt when I'm punching the bag or the pads (using proper form now of course!), or after exercises like finger tip pushups or squeezing a ball. Knuckle push-ups bother them.

I'm posting this here because I'm guessing someone here will have experience with these problems, and maybe how long it will take to recover. I just can't trust doctors sometimes, always wanting to do surgery or give pain killers or get you into rehab so you have more bills to pay.

Post approved despite the autocratic auto-mod function. Yes, this is a bump to get the OP's thread noticed.

If you can't trust your doctors find a new doctor. If you have insurance this shouldn't be a problem. Also a good neuromuscular therapist (massage therapist) with the right mindset can work wonders, your insurance should also cover some of this.

As for your knuckle; You're probably going to have to deal with that for a while. In FMA we take knuckle shots pretty regularly some of these take a looong! time to heal especially if you keep aggravating the injury with even the slightest contact. If you want it to go away avoid any activity that involves contact to that knuckle.

It sounds like you're doing a lot on your own without proper instruction. Martial arts without a teacher to correct you can be a bad idea. The same goes for exercise routines. If you don't want to pay for fitness instruction do your research and find a routine that a professional has developed than go to youtube and find the right way to perform the exercise. Throwing together your own routine is usually a waste of time.

Maybe i'm wrong OP did you have someone instructing you on all these pushup variations? your Wing chun punches? If you did you need to communicate your imitations and injuries with your instructor so he knows not to push you, or; your instructor doesn't realize you are doing something wrong in which case you might find someone else.

I'm gonna second the massage therapist suggestion as an alternative to the doctor. The wrist/hand/forearm/elbow pain sounds like its fleshy and a PROPER sports massage therapist can work freakin miracles.

It sounds like you prolly need to have the living crap worked out of your arms,everything sounds rather inflammed ,and a properly qualified therapist can also give you additional rehap type exercises.

I've found them generally well priced and effective,provided you take the time to get someone who knows whats up.

If you can't trust your doctors find a new doctor. If you have insurance this shouldn't be a problem. Also a good neuromuscular therapist (massage therapist) with the right mindset can work wonders, your insurance should also cover some of this.

As for your knuckle; You're probably going to have to deal with that for a while. In FMA we take knuckle shots pretty regularly some of these take a looong! time to heal especially if you keep aggravating the injury with even the slightest contact. If you want it to go away avoid any activity that involves contact to that knuckle.

It sounds like you're doing a lot on your own without proper instruction. Martial arts without a teacher to correct you can be a bad idea. The same goes for exercise routines. If you don't want to pay for fitness instruction do your research and find a routine that a professional has developed than go to youtube and find the right way to perform the exercise. Throwing together your own routine is usually a waste of time.

Maybe i'm wrong OP did you have someone instructing you on all these pushup variations? your Wing chun punches? If you did you need to communicate your imitations and injuries with your instructor so he knows not to push you, or; your instructor doesn't realize you are doing something wrong in which case you might find someone else.

The thing that gets me about the forearm pain is that I had done diamond pushups before with no problem, which is why I'm really perplexed about it hurting all of a sudden.

But yes, I am now taking lessons. The wing chun thing was a silly phase I went through; I've been punching stuff for some years with no problem and this is the first I've ever had pain. I should've stuck with what works.

I have an appointment scheduled with a hand specialist now though. I was at my regular doctor; he thought the middle knuckle joint capsule was swollen, and referred me to the specialist. I'll let you know how that goes.

I've got an appointment scheduled with a hand specialist now, so don't worry. I'll let you all know how bad it is.

And yes, I am now taking lessons. The thing with my pinkies was just stupid on my part. I've been punching for years with no problem, never needed wraps even. I read carefully through Dempsey's "Championship Fighting" several times too, so that gave me plenty of instruction on proper punching as well, and then I try something new...

Sounds like you're getting things in order and you've learned from mistakes. We've all been there.hopefully hand specialist will help out. I still don't know that i agree reading a book qualifies as proper instruction, it's better than nothing though.